Cayetano: Leadership is about political will
ONLY political will fully uplift the lives of fishermen and farmers.
This was the quick response of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano to the 10-agenda brought to his attention by the group of fisherfolk that staged a lightning protest at the University of Pangasinan campus, the venue for the third presidential debate.
He underscored that only a Duterte-Cayetano brand of leadership and political will can introduce bold reforms in the agricultural industry that will benefit the main stakeholders, the farmers and the fisherfolk.
“Inclusive growth is only possible with political will backed by well-studied strategy.” said Mr. Cayetano, vice presidential candidate, running in tandem with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The other candidates, he said, offer and promise programs that are hardly viable, but the mayor and I pledge our political will to create the Department of Fishery to implement bold programs.
“Our farmers and fishermen have had enough of motherhood statements, they deserve leaders who can make real changes,” he added.
Citing the positive experiences and gains made by various sectors that participated in his “PTK (Presyo-Trabaho-Kita) program, he said simple solutions like making capital available to marginal sectors can easily be implemented by giving the policy a high priority, and that requires political will, the senator pointed out.
He was in Dagupan last month for his “Ronda-Serye” listening tour and had an informal dialogue with the fishpond owners who presented their concerns including the lack of support from government as a policy.
“These concerns need to be addressed immediately as they deprive our fisherfolk and farmers of the income and resources that they need to make ends meet,” Mr. Cayetano said.
The tandem also vowed to protect fisherfolk and agri-workers from weather-related calamities such as the El Niño and La Niña phenomenon by seeking the establishment of mandatory crop insurance and non-collateral credit fund programs, as well as the creation of an Emergency Response Department (ERD) that will focus on disaster preparedness and response.
“Titiyakin namin ni Mayor Duterte na ‘di na mauulit ang nangyari sa mga maralita, katulad ng nangyari sa mga magsasaka sa Kidapawan, na sa halip na abutan ng tulong ng gobyerno ay pinaulanan pa ng bala. Through sheer political will and bold solutions, we will see to it that the interests of the agriculture and fishery sectors will be properly protected,” Mr. Cayetano said. #
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